KEARNEY — Buffalo County has agreed to purchase the Western Inn-Midtown and intends to demolish the location and hold the property for future county use.
The property also includes The Lodge, which opened in 1971 and is the community’s oldest continuously operating restaurant.
The Lodge has been owned and operated since 2014 by Cindy Houlden and brother Robert James. The space has been leased from Rod and Lonna Rasmussen, who own the Western Inn-Midtown property.
Houlden and James took over the restaurant located at 1401 Second Ave. from Nick and Claire Longly who started the business.
Per the Dec. 29 minutes of the Buffalo County Commissioners emergency meeting, the county is purchasing the property for $1,270,000. The board members voted unanimously to authorize board chairman Ivan Klein to sign the purchase agreement.
Klein said the commissioners are securing the property for future use by the county. He noted the Buffalo County courthouse is landlocked with no means for expansion.
Klien said that the courthouse if full and with potential new requirements coming down the pipe, they moved on the purchase agreement when the county was approached about acquiring the property.
He noted that if the county doesn’t move on securing property today, the price could increase substantially if they waited to purchase ground in the future.
The plan is to demolish the Western Inn-Midtown, which includes The Lodge restaurant. After the demolition, the property will be held by the county for future development, Klien said.
The Lodge’s Future
Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today
Cindy Houlden said that she and her brother learned about the decision to sell on Jan. 1 and it took them by surprise. She said everyone, including the staff, was shocked.
Houlden said their plan as it stands now is working with a real estate agent to find a new location.
She noted they are working with their attorney to determine the last date they can occupy their space as per their lease agreement. Houlden said they are evaluating their options.
Houlden closed by saying that the situation has been shocking but The Lodge has an amazing opportunity to “continue and expand.” She said they are trying to make the best of their situation.
